Content Governance

Rights-Based Approaches to Online Content

Governments and companies are under increasing pressure to address illegal or undesirable content and expression online, but hasty or poorly crafted solutions threaten human rights. We advocate for policies and practices to defend free expression and access to information and  ensure people who are most at risk are protected.

Content governance in times of crisis: how platforms can protect human rights

In situations of armed conflicts and other crises, people use social media and messaging platforms to document human rights abuses or war crimes, access information, mobilize for action, and crowdsource humanitarian assistance. 

Resources

Content Governance

Guide: how to protect human rights in content governance

We offer 26 recommendations on content governance to help lawmakers, regulators, and company leaders make decisions that will safeguard human rights.

what is disinformation

Content Governance

What is disinformation, why it spreads, and how to stop it

Our new report explores what disinformation is, and how lawmakers can address the harms it poses to democracy.

The EU must hold VLOPs accountable

Content Governance

The Digital Services Act: your guide to the EU’s new content moderation rules

The EU Digital Services Act has finally arrived. We unpack what this law contains and the changes people can expect to see from 2024 onwards.

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Content Governance

Digital Security Helpline: our approach to content-related cases

Critical voices from civil society are being censored. Here’s how the Digital Security Helpline addresses cases related to content governance.

Indonesia MR5 Amicus Brief

Content Governance

Meta’s actions “adversely impacted” Palestinians’ rights: Access Now welcomes BSR findings

Access Now welcomes the release of BSR’s human rights due diligence findings that expose Meta’s rights-violating actions against people in Palestine.

Musk

Content Governance

What does Musk’s “free speech” look like for the rest of us?

Elon Musk’s simplistic views of freedom of expression could catapult Twitter from a toxic space to a worse one — especially for those of us tweeting from the margins.

Musk

Content Governance

Access Now to Telegram: protect the rights of 500 million people

Access Now and a coalition of civil society organizations are sounding the alarm over safety and security issues plaguing Telegram.

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Content Governance

Access Now releases “Fighting misinformation and defending free expression during COVID-19: recommendations for states”

We have identified practical examples and promising practices to support policy makers in respecting human rights while developing measures to address disinformation and misinformation during the COVID-19 crisis.

Latest Updates

#StopSilencingPalestine: U.S. Senator joins civil society's call
Content Governance
Content Governance

A coalition of international organizations demands that Meta refrain from censoring criticism of Zionism on its platforms

12 Feb 2024

Access Now joins over 70 civil society organizations in urging Meta to abstain from censoring criticism of Zionism on its platforms.

Press Release
A coalition of international organizations demands that Meta refrain from censoring criticism of Zionism on its platforms
12 Feb 2024
A coalition of international organizations demands that Meta refrain from censoring criticism of Zionism on its platforms
EU terrorist content regulation
Content Governance
Content Governance

This website tracked hate crimes in India. Then the government took it offline

12 Feb 2024
News
This website tracked hate crimes in India. Then the government took it offline
WIRED ↗
12 Feb 2024
This website tracked hate crimes in India. Then the government took it offline
KeepItOn 2024 Elections and Internet Shutdowns Watch
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

2024 elections and internet shutdowns watch

5 Feb 2024

Governments around the world continue to shut down the internet during elections. Join our 2024 elections watch to #KeepItOn.

Campaign
2024 elections and internet shutdowns watch
5 Feb 2024
2024 elections and internet shutdowns watch
TikTok
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Censorship at the door: India must say no to government fact-checking 

1 Feb 2024

The 2023 fact-checking amendment contradicts the right to free speech and expression under Indian and international law.

Press Release
Censorship at the door: India must say no to government fact-checking 
1 Feb 2024
Censorship at the door: India must say no to government fact-checking 
header image: pushing back against IMEI registration in Myanmar
Internet Shutdowns
Internet Shutdowns

The world must bring down Myanmar’s digital iron curtain

31 Jan 2024

Today marks three years since Myanmar’s junta seized power in a violent coup. Access Now is calling on the international community to offer resources to resist digital oppression.

Press Release
The world must bring down Myanmar’s digital iron curtain
31 Jan 2024
The world must bring down Myanmar’s digital iron curtain
Myanmar's digital dictatorship
Connectivity
Connectivity

A call for global solidarity and decisive action to end Myanmar’s military rule and ensure victory for the people resisting dictatorship

31 Jan 2024

Access Now and a coalition of human rights organizations call on the international and business community to resist the digital coup in Myanmar.

Press Release
A call for global solidarity and decisive action to end Myanmar’s military rule and ensure victory for the people resisting dictatorship
31 Jan 2024
A call for global solidarity and decisive action to end Myanmar’s military rule and ensure victory for the people resisting dictatorship
Restore Telecoms and Internet Connectivity in Gaza Now!
Content Governance
Content Governance

How Israeli soldiers are TikToking their war crimes in Gaza

29 Jan 2024
News
How Israeli soldiers are TikToking their war crimes in Gaza
The New Arab ↗
29 Jan 2024
How Israeli soldiers are TikToking their war crimes in Gaza
Indonesia MR5 Amicus Brief
Content Governance
Content Governance

No liberty, no safety: Sri Lanka must withdraw the Online Safety Bill

19 Jan 2024

Access Now, Hashtag Generation, and more than 50 organisations, are demanding the Government of Sri Lanka to withdraw the Online Safety Bill. 

Press Release
No liberty, no safety: Sri Lanka must withdraw the Online Safety Bill
19 Jan 2024
No liberty, no safety: Sri Lanka must withdraw the Online Safety Bill
Indonesia MR5 Amicus Brief
Freedom of Expression
Freedom of Expression

Open letter to Sri Lankan government: Withdraw Online Safety Bill to protect people’s rights and future

19 Jan 2024

More than fifty Sri Lankan and international organisations are calling on the Sri Lankan government to withdraw the Onine Safety Bill.

Press Release
Open letter to Sri Lankan government: Withdraw Online Safety Bill to protect people’s rights and future
19 Jan 2024
Open letter to Sri Lankan government: Withdraw Online Safety Bill to protect people’s rights and future
European Media Freedom Act
Content Governance
Content Governance

Submission on India’s draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023

15 Jan 2024

Access Now raises concerns about peopleʼs fundamental rights in its submission on India’s Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023.

Publication
Submission on India’s draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023
15 Jan 2024
Submission on India’s draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023
Global encryption day 2023
Privacy
Privacy

Submission to eSafety Commissioner, Australia on the draft Online Safety Industry Standards

22 Dec 2023

Access Now recommends eSafety Office against mandating online communication services, as well as file storage and cloud services, to proactively detect content on their platforms.

Publication
Submission to eSafety Commissioner, Australia on the draft Online Safety Industry Standards
22 Dec 2023
Submission to eSafety Commissioner, Australia on the draft Online Safety Industry Standards
The EU must hold VLOPs accountable
Content Governance
Content Governance

The EU must hold VLOPs accountable

20 Dec 2023
Press Release
The EU must hold VLOPs accountable
20 Dec 2023
The EU must hold VLOPs accountable
#StopSilencingPalestine
Content Governance
Content Governance

U.S. Senator joins civil society’s call: #StopSilencingPalestine

15 Dec 2023

U.S. Senator joins civil society’s call to #StopSilencingPalestine. Meta’s censorship of Palestine-related content must end now.

Press Release
U.S. Senator joins civil society’s call: #StopSilencingPalestine
15 Dec 2023
U.S. Senator joins civil society’s call: #StopSilencingPalestine
Content governance in times of crisis: applying international humanitarian, criminal, and human rights law
Content Governance
Content Governance

Content and platform governance in times of crisis: applying international humanitarian, criminal, and human rights law

13 Dec 2023

This new report discusses the application of international humanitarian, criminal, and human rights law in content governance in crises.

Publication
Content and platform governance in times of crisis: applying international humanitarian, criminal, and human rights law
13 Dec 2023
Content and platform governance in times of crisis: applying international humanitarian, criminal, and human rights law
Regulating digital platforms
Content Governance
Content Governance

UNESCO’s guidelines for governing digital platforms: our remaining concerns

10 Dec 2023

Access Now has been following with concern UNESCO’s efforts to create global content governance guidelines. With the release of the final version, our concerns persist.

Post
UNESCO’s guidelines for governing digital platforms: our remaining concerns
10 Dec 2023
UNESCO’s guidelines for governing digital platforms: our remaining concerns
Antitrust
Content Governance
Content Governance

Directrices de la UNESCO para la gobernanza de las plataformas digitales: las discusiones pendientes

10 Dec 2023

Access Now ha seguido con preocupación los esfuerzos liderados por la UNESCO para crear unas directrices globales para la regulación de las plataformas digitales.

Post
Directrices de la UNESCO para la gobernanza de las plataformas digitales: las discusiones pendientes
10 Dec 2023
Directrices de la UNESCO para la gobernanza de las plataformas digitales: las discusiones pendientes